La Ronge Ice Wolves (SJHL)

 Being a Host Family can be a very rewarding experience.  This is a great way to become involved with your team and with your community.  You will develop some very specials bonds with the Ice Wolves players and their families and in many cases the bonds you form will be there for a lifetime.  For many of the players, this may be their first time living away from home and they need a stable living environment for their move to La Ronge.  Part of our commitment to our players and their parents is to provide them with a good home while they are with our organization.

The team welcomes Host Families, whether it is a traditional two parent family, a single parent, or “empty nesters” that are willing to bring a player into their home and help them in achieving their future goals. 

• It is the responsibility of the Host Family to provide an environment conducive to good performance on and off the ice and to promote team policies and rules. It is the responsibility of the player to be courteous, polite, respectful, and to adhere to their billet's household rules.
• Curfews are for the benefit of the players.  There are to be no visitors at the Host Family’s home after curfew hours or at any time unless the players and their Host Family have made prior arrangements and understandings.  Curfew will be at 11:00 PM every night with the exception of nights prior to games, when the curfew will be 10:00 PM.  After home games, players are to be at their Host Family’s by midnight (12:00 AM).  Following away games, players are to be at their Host Family’s home within a half hour of arrival back at the arena.  Extended curfew may be assigned on occasion at the coaches’ discretion according to game schedule and performance.  Players are responsible for informing their Host Family of extended curfews as they happen.  Extended curfew will not be later than 3:00 AM.  All players must be at their assigned Host Family’s by curfew – no sleepovers!
• Players shall abide by their Host Family's house rules. Communication is the key to success – things that are not acceptable in your home may have been in theirs.  Unless these problems are addressed, they may become bigger issues.  (ie: shower use, telephone usage, dishes, shoes/caps in the house, tidiness, etc.)  It is highly recommended that you sit down with your player(s) and openly discuss expectations for your home and ensure they are understood.
• Players and Host Families should discuss the meals best suited for both.  They should establish meal times and pre-game meal requirements.  Players should eat a balanced diet.  High carbohydrate, low fat diets are ideal.  It is important that players have juice and milk available to them.

** Players are to inform their Host Family well in advance if they will not be home for a meal** 

 “We have been involved with the Ice Wolves as a host family for the past seven years.  This has been an extremely rewarding experience for us.  We try to provide that “home away from home” experience for them; as they are often far from home and family.  We ride through the good times and the bad times with these players as they journey through their hockey careers.  Through this opportunity, we have met some wonderful young men who have become just like members of our family.  With many of our players, we have created relationships with them and their families which will last a lifetime!“

Brian and Dawna Olson

“For the past 3 years we have had the joy of billeting young hockey players here in La Ronge. What a great experience it has been for our entire family, to open our home and hearts to these young men.  As a family we have always enjoyed watching hockey but when you have players on the team that you feel are like family.  It makes the game much more enjoyable, whether they have a great game or one where it’s not so great, we are there.

This past year was so exciting to follow our “boys” around; watching them win their league victory.  I'll always remember my oldest son, saying, “I am so playing in the SJHL, that was awesome", as we drove home after their victory in game 6 against Yorkton to take the Cup! Every one of the young men has been role models, not only for our son, but for all the young kids in the community.  We have met a lot of great young men over the last years and hope to meet many more!“

Rob and Jody Wilson

“It has been rewarding and fun.  I've made lasting friendships with players and their families.  My players have been wonderful guys and have gone out of their way to help.  A couple of the players even painted my house one summer and shovelled my drive throughout the winter.“ 

Rosemary Loeffler

• Players, if registered, must attend all classes, either high school or university, including after away games.  If your player is attending high school, the Host Family must notify Churchill Community High School (425-2744) if the players will be late or absent (even for games).  This is very important so that they do not lose credit for that class.  Players should give their Host Family a copy of their class schedule.  Players who are not in school are encouraged to find a part time job.
• Players are responsible for their own appointments (school, doctor/dentist, practices, workouts, etc.).
• Leaving La Ronge is not allowed.  Players must get permission from coaching staff and notify the Host Family in advance.
• Abuse of any substance will not be tolerated.  It is a SJHL Rule: any offence of this rule will result in a 30-day suspension of playing in any hockey game.
• The most important rule is that of common sense and good communication.  Respect is a two-way street.
• We encourage Host Families and players to discuss problems and try to resolve them.  At no time are Host Families are required to deal with defiant players.  If such a situation arises, please contact the Host Family Coordinator first.  If the problem is unresolved it will be taken to the coaching staff and then the Board of Directors for further action.  As well, if players are encountering a problem with their Host Family they too need to contact the Host Family Coordinator first and appropriate action will be taken to try and resolve the problem.

Dan Conacher (2008-2009; 2009-2010) 

In December 2008, I moved to the La Ronge Ice Wolves from the Melfort Mustangs, with no idea as to what to expect of the town and the community.  As it was a northern town in Saskatchewan, other players from around the league said that La Ronge would not be half the fun for me as Melfort had been, but they were all wrong. 

After playing a season and a half and spending the majority of the past two years in La Ronge, I am proud to say it is my “home away from home”.  The community is so supportive of the Ice Wolves and all of the billets are amazing.  My billets in particular were unbelievable; Dawna and Brian Olson treated me like their own son and are family to me now.  I keep in close touch with them and I plan to visit them many times in the future.  La Ronge is probably the nicest town in the SJHL, it is built right into the forest and it is on the shore line of the renowned Lac La Ronge. 

Our team spent countless hours after practice and on weekends fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and ice fishing and we had a blast doing it!  I am being completely honest when I say that I wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else to play in the league.  The town was so good to me over the last two seasons and the memories and friends I have made there will be with me forever.  Thank You La Ronge. 

Ben Findlay (2008 - 2009; 2009 - 2010)

“Moving to La Ronge was a big change for me.  Coming from Vancouver Island I had no idea what to expect when I got there.  From the beginning of training camp, my first year, my billets accepted me as one of their own family members.  Over the 2 years I spent with the Ice Wolves, I learned from my billets, that La Ronge offered many different activities during the fall and summer.  My billets allowed me to use their boat and snowmobiles which was awesome! 

There are many negatvie perceptions of La Ronge, but once you are there, you realize they are just myths.

The peple in La Ronge are genuinely good people and the billets I had and met during my stint in LA North were all great people.” 

Travis Gordon (2008/2009;2009/2010)

“My three years spent in La Ronge was an amazing experience. A lot of that had to do with the support I received from my billets and the other billets in the community. They made me feel very comfortable and made the transition of moving away from home that much easier.“ 

Evan Vossen (2004-2007)